what does the dark spirit drop? cause i just did the same

It drops a petrified something

most likely to keep new players from blundering into the two ogres that hang out near the gender-change coffin too early. In the non-SotFS version, the statue isn't there.

Only thing I can think of is that it leads to the area with the 2 trolls where you can fight the pursuer and maybe get an item i cant remember

One of the later places is even worse, The place Unbeknownst

Literally the opposite, Lands Between is unsophisticated in comparison

why would it be the rotten dude

Fourth firekeeper is the old lady your character talks to in the opening cinematic.